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Columns

By BEV Ringenberg
‘Don’t know about you, but sometimes I wonder if the
little bit I try to do to “reduce, reuse, & recycle” can really
make a difference. With so many of us in this world can we
really stop the drain on our natural resources? Is there really
any hope?
But then, something little happens and my optimism
returns. This time it happened when I was paging through
my new 2011 “At-A Glance” Calendar (yep, I’m still stuck

By Paul D. Barnes
Social Security Regional Commissioner, Atlanta, Ga
The cool winds and changing leaves are telltale signs:
another autumn has arrived. Sometimes it’s hard to believe
how quickly the seasons change and the years pass by.
Whatever season of life you happen to be in, it may be a
good time to reflect on the protection you have through
Social Security.
Each stage of life — from the spring of youth to the summer
of middle age to the autumn of retirement — comes with

By Alice Moses-Turner
Social Security District Manager, Gainesville, FlQuestion: What is the earliest age that I can apply for
Social Security retirement benefits?
Answer:
If you want benefits to begin at age 62 — the earliest age
you can receive reduced retirement benefits, you must be at
least 61 years and 9 months of age to apply. Keep in mind
your benefits will be reduced so evaluate your options carefully
before you decide when to retire, Even if you are not

Four of Cedar Key’s lodging establishments, Seahorse Landing, Island Place, Park Place and Faraway Inn, made the time and investment to be certified by Florida’s DEP as a Green Lodging. This voluntary initiative designates and recognizes lodging establishments that make a commitment to conservation and protection of Florida’s natural resources. The program consists of environmental guidelines designed for the hospitality industry to evaluate its operations, set goals and take specific actions to improve environmental performance.

Mr. Mack was a lot of things to a lot of people. We all knew him as a mainstay of the Cedar Keys.

His works are all over the Keys; his abilities, many; his heart, stern, though warm.

He leaves a legacy for the archives of the town. You can't help but note the heavy yellow equipment that speckled the land on which he worked, the place he called his shop, to your right on your way out of town.

His living went a long way toward building what we now know as Cedar Key. And his passing leaves a hole, a void, not soon to be filled.

Everyone's eyes are on the candidates. What is it going to be, the Republicans or the Democrats?

I have no qualms about saying I'm a Democrat but I am also not beneath voting Republican if I thought a Republican candidate was better. However, in this case I emphatically favor the Democrats for both President and Vice President.

I am a little worried, though. My neighborhood is riddled with McCain - Palin posters. It seems where I live most people are registered Republicans.

Finally the wind subsided and the boat ramp was busy with offshore vessels during the pre-dawn hours this past weekend. I didn't get a chance to talk, but I saw The "Sandy Gail" unload a lot of gag and red grouper Saturday and Sunday. So my bet is that the fall grouper bite is in full gear. Many of our offshore guides have openings in their schedule so give them a call and get in on the good weather and good fishing.

A few days past, Wild Bill came back to town. We've talked of Wild Bill before though that's been many years back. His boat is the Creek Runner out of Inglis where Bill and Katie live. Bill's had the boat about twenty years. The Creek Runner was a shrimper that Bill converted to a sponger. And later, he reconverted it to a shrimper that could be used for sponging, or maybe the other way around. No matter. It's now used only as a sponge boat.

David Binkley, the Cedar Key Church of Christ's pastor, and his wife Galina are moving away after living and serving in Cedar Key for seven years. Members of the church organized a farewell reception for the Binkleys where locals gathered to say goodbye to the couple who has done so much for the Cedar Key community. While working with the Church of Christ, the Binkleys initiated several new outreach programs, one of which was a daily morning bible study.